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Homegrown Tricks and Treats: Creations of 7 San Antonio artists keep the Halloween spirit alive
Like everything else in this godforsaken year, Halloween 2020 is going to look and feel very different. If folks follow CDC guidelines, trick-or-treaters will practice social distancing and trade in costume masks for adapted cloth face coverings (good luck, Mom and Dad). Candy will also be distributed outdoors, eliminating the need to touch that filthy…
San Antonians can return to simpler time with Hot Tub Time Machine screening at Good Kind
Locals can travel back in time with the screening of 2010 comedy Hot Tub Time Machine on Monday, November 9 hosted by Slab Cinema at the Good Kind Southtown. Starting at dusk, San Antonians can enjoy a socially distanced movie night with food, drinks — and can even bring along their furry friends. To ensure…
18-wheeler carrying Whataburger cups struck by train in San Antonio
A slow-moving Union Pacific train smashed into an 18-wheeler carrying Whataburger cups Wednesday just after 4 p.m., ripping several tires free of the trailer, MySA reports. The driver was still inside the cab when the collision occurred near the Rittiman Plaza industrial park in Northeast San Antonio. The collision occurred after an RV blocked the…
Retired San Antonio Police Department detective arrested for pointing pistol at man during scuffle
Authorities have arrested a retired San Antonio police detective after he was caught on cell phone video pointing a handgun at a man during an altercation outside a Home Depot, KSAT reports. John Schiller was taken into custody Friday and released on a $25,000 bond, San Antonio Police Department officials told the station. He’s been…
Texas State Parks offer free day passes this Sunday in honor of Veterans Day
Texas State Parks are waiving all daily entrance fees Sunday in honor of active and retired military members. The promotion comes shortly before Veterans Day, November 11, and applies to all day-use visitors. “The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas State Parks are proud to honor the men and women that serve our country…
Fan drives pizza from Houston to San Antonio after author Shea Serrano tweets about his craving
Some creators have fans. Others have stans. Count San Antonio’s Shea Serrano among the latter. A Twitter follower of the New York Times bestselling author drove 200 miles from Houston to deliver a pizza to his house over the weekend. Here’s how it went down. Serrano, who lived in Houston before relocating back to his hometown…
San Antonio fixture Mama’s Cafe anticipates early 2021 reopening with renovated digs
Mama’s Cafe — longtime purveyor of comfort food, cozy atmosphere and cornbread — is set to reopen early next year, MySA reports. After being closed for nearly two years for renovations, the north SA cafe will open its doors to show off an updated space curated by father and son co-owners, Cappy and Trevor Lawton.…
Whistleblowers say Texas AG’s office retaliated against them — placing an armed guard in the office — after they reported Ken Paxton
At a senior staff meeting one Thursday morning in May, with much of the Texas attorney general’s office working from home and morale seeming low, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton arrived at the Price Daniel Sr. State Office Building in downtown Austin with a surprise honor for a top deputy: a copy of Scalia Speaks,…
Joe Biden’s struggles along the Texas border raise questions about Democrats’ outreach there
When vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris made an 11th-hour stop in McAllen on Friday, she stressed the importance of the predominantly Hispanic border city and its surrounding region to Democrats. “There are people here who matter, people who are working hard, people who love their country, and we need to be responsive to that,” she told…
Longtime San Antonio Mexican eatery Pico de Gallo to reopen this week after months of closure
Pico de Gallo, one of many Mexican restaurants owned and operated by La Familia Cortez, will reopen Friday after being closed for nearly seven months. While other restaurants owned by the family have been open under state and local COVID-19 limitations, Pico de Gallo has remained closed since March. “We appreciate your support during these…
Victim of San Antonio attorney sentenced for stealing from clients says he’s not paying restitution
Former San Antonio attorney Tamer Morsi avoided prison earlier this year in a case of felony forgery of the elderly, but he’s now accused of falling behind on making restitution payments to at least one of his victims, KSAT reports. Morsi was given 10 years probation and ordered to repay more than $22,000 to two…
San Antonio grandma believes she and Aquaman star Jason Momoa are in love
Someone should tell actress Lisa Bonet that a grandma from San Antonio is trying to steal her Aquaman. In a recent story from News4SA, San Antonio police are investigating a case where a local senior is being catfished by someone pretending to be Aquaman star Jason Momoa. The 72-year-old woman, whose identity was not revealed,…
Wind down on day two of election week with these easy cocktails from San Antonio-based Ranch Gin
It’s safe to say we’re all looking for a bit of an escape from the dumpster fire that is the 2020 election, so why not treat yourself to a crisp cocktail featuring local gin? San Antonio-based distiller Ranch Brand’s Ranch Gin offers distinct juniper notes as well as other botanicals, such as cardamom, licorice root and…
San Antonio craft beer star Marcus Baskerville elected to board of national Brewers Association
And now, some positive election news. Marcus Baskerville — founder of SA’s Weathered Souls Brewing Co., whose Black is Beautiful social-justice campaign grabbed international headlines — has been elected to the Brewers Association’s 2020 board of directors. The Brewers Association is a Colorado-based trade association that advocates for American craft brewers, who can use all they…
San Antonio-based Mobile Om and Cherrity Bar offer post-election outdoor yoga session
The 2020 Presidential election process has been an emotional one thus far. May of us could use some self-soothing. Good thing Mobile Om — a nomadic yoga “studio” that holds casual yoga classes in unconventional locations — and Cherrity Bar have offered a way to let go of the stress with Sunset Yoga on the…
New Mission San Jose tricentennial mural highlights 300 years of San Antonio culture and history
In honor of Mission San José’s 300-year anniversary, the San Antonio Missions National Park and Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival are unveiling a mural commemorating 300 years of local history. Created by San Antonio artist and teacher Sandra Gonzalez, the mural depicts aspects of both the city and mission community’s cultural and natural history. Located on…
Texas Republicans decline to condemn President Trump’s premature declaration of victory while votes are still being counted
Texas’s top Republican congressional leaders are mostly staying silent after President Donald Trump prematurely and falsely declared victory early Wednesday morning as votes continue to be counted in multiple battleground states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Trump also pledged to go to the U.S. Supreme Court to stop votes from being counted. His statements early…
San Antonio Zoo to provide free admission to U.S. military members through November
U.S. military members, retirees and veterans, the San Antonio Zoo salutes you. The zoo has joined forces with the USAA Foundation to offer those who are serving or have served in the armed services with a free single-day admission through November via its Zoo Salutes initiative. The program also provides a 50% discount on standard admission for…
Chef Jason Dady’s San Antonio restaurant Range reopens Wednesday with new menu, hours
After a months-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, chef Jason Dady’s modern American chophouse Range will reopen with new menu items and updated hours Wednesday. “Happy to be back at ‘Home on the Range,’” read a Monday Facebook post from the chef. “@rangesanantonio is reopening Wednesday. Come see us for our new comfort food…
Roland Gutierrez’s lead against State Sen. Pete Flores one of few bright spots for Texas Democrats
If progressives smarting from Democrats’ 2020 underperformance in Texas need a bright spot right now, there is one to be found — and it’s in the Alamo City, or at least Alamo City-adjacent. With more than 40% of the votes counted, Texas Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, has a hefty 34-point lead on freshman State…
Despite pushback, San Antonio job training, VIA funding and pre-K initiatives win broad voter support
San Antonio voters overwhelmingly approved three sales tax measures Tuesday that will augment a training program designed to help people who lost jobs during the pandemic, boost revenue for mass transit and renew Pre-K 4 SA. Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s workforce training program, called SA: Ready to Work, was approved by 76.9% of voters. By this morning,…
Despite high hopes and lots of cash, Democrats fail to flip Texas House or land statewide seat
Democrats spent big and dreamed even bigger in Texas this election cycle. And, once again, they fell desperately short. Emboldened by promising polls and a 12-seat gain in the Texas House during 2018, the party had hoped to crack Republicans’ long dominance here, winning their first statewide office in nearly three decades and racking up…
Trish DeBerry leads in tight race for Bexar County’s Precinct 3 race
In a race for Bexar County Commissioners Court that some were expecting to be a Democratic upset, Republican Trish DeBerry held steady with 54% of the vote as of 11 p.m. Tuesday. DeBerry faced a challenge from Democrat Christine Hortick to represent Precinct 3, traditionally a Republican stronghold. “I feel incredibly gratified. We ran on…
In early voting, San Antonio supports job training, transportation and pre-K ballot measures
San Antonio voters threw their support Tuesday behind a trio of local ballot initiatives that would expand training for displaced workers, offer new funding for VIA Metropolitan Transit and continue funding the Pre-K 4 SA program. Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s $154 million, four-year plan to retrain 40,000 workers left jobless by the pandemic received approval from 77%…
Democrats Castro, Cuellar, Doggett hang on to their U.S. House seats representing San Antonio
The hotly contested U.S. House races in Texas’ 21st and 23rd districts — both of which include part of San Antonio — remained too tough to call a little after 9:30 p.m. However, San Antonio’s three other congressional races played out largely as expected, with Democratic incumbents wrapping up wins in each. Here’s how they…
Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn squeaks out 3-point victory against MJ Hegar
Three-term Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has pulled off a narrow three-point win against Democrat MJ Hegar with more than 70% of the vote counted, according to Decision Desk HQ. The contest was the priciest and closest of Cornyn’s Senate career — he won his 2014 contest by 27 points — with recent polls showing…
Artistic director at Public Theater of San Antonio removed amid criticism of his treatment of staff
The Public Theater of San Antonio has had a tumultuous few months, the latest development of which is the ouster of Artistic Director and CEO George Green. Earlier this fall, the Public was hit with a Do Not Work designation by the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA). The theater and union resolved the dispute on October…
Temporary fencing installed at the Alamo ‘as a security precaution’
It’s not just the White House getting walled in for Election Day. City officials have installed temporary fencing around the Alamo as a “security precaution.” The move comes as San Antonio braces for the possibility of election-induced unrest. The barricade surrounding Alamo Plaza will stay in place for the remainder of the week. “Starting [Tuesday],…
San Antonio Housing Authority chief Nisivoccia leaving for Denver agency
David Nisivoccia, the San Antonio Housing Authority’s (SAHA) CEO and president since 2015, is expected to be named as the Denver Housing Authority’s executive director today. In recent weeks, the Denver Housing Authority named Nisivoccia as its sole finalist after conducting a national search for a chief executive. Nisivoccia submitted a resignation letter to the…
San Antonio breweries Dorćol and Roadmap release collaborative brew: HighRoad Imperial Red IPA
HighWheel plus Roadmap equals HighRoad. San Antonio craft beer stalwarts Dorćol Distilling & Brewing and Roadmap Brewing have paired up to release HighRoad Imperial Red IPA, a collaboration ale that clocks in at an impressive 8% ABV. The brew originated as a cross between an American Amber and an American IPA. It features a rich,…
San Antonio native Marcella Ochoa’s script is part of Blumhouse’s next horror anthology series
She might have left San Antonio when she was a child, but screenwriter Marcella Ochoa has always considered the Alamo City home. In fact, during a trip to San Antonio in January to speak about her short film “My Name Is Maria De Jesus” at Trinity University, Ochoa received a call from her manager with…
Democrats say San Marcos officials didn’t respond to ‘Trump Train’ that harassed Biden bus
San Marcos city officials were notified more than 24 hours in advance about a planned campaign event Friday on behalf of Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee. Lisa Prewitt, a Democratic candidate for Hays County Commission, flagged local law enforcement early Thursday afternoon for the campaign to share safety concerns about the visit. She called…
One-price Mexican restaurant Cervecería Chapultepec opening second San Antonio location
Cervecería Chapultepec, a Mexico-based restaurant and bar chain that offers every menu item for just $3, will soon open a second San Antonio location MySA reports. The second spot will be on the city’s far West Side, at 8403 State Highway 151. The one-price Mexican food chain has more than 100 locations in Central and…
LGBTQ-inclusive speed-waxing salon LunchboxWax to open three San Antonio locations in 2021
LunchboxWax, a LGBTQ-inclusive speed-waxing concept, will open a San Antonio location at the Alon Town Centre on the North Side, the first of three outlets planned in the city. The Alon store will open in March 2021. All three locations will be owned by Alamo City native Denise Reetz. “I come from an entrepreneurial family and…
Two more senior aides fired from Texas attorney general’s office in wake of criminal accusations against Ken Paxton
Two more senior aides to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have been fired weeks after top deputies accused him of criminal wrongdoing — marking four such terminations in just a few weeks. David Maxwell, the agency’s director of law enforcement, and Mark Penley, the deputy attorney general for criminal justice, have been fired. Both had been…
Report: Trump fan who rammed SUV while following Biden bus also threatened San Antonio protesters
A driver who appeared to ram his truck into a SUV as part of a so-called “Trump train” swarmed a Biden campaign bus in Central Texas over the weekend also menaced San Antonio protesters with his vehicle in an earlier incident, according to a Texas Public Radio investigation. The TPR story identifies the driver as…
Bipartisan elections report raises odds of Democrats taking Texas House this cycle to ‘toss up’
Based on voter turnout, the Cook Political Report, a trusted bipartisan barometer of elections outcomes, has shifted its call on the odds of Democrats flipping the Texas House from “lean Republican” to “toss up.” “All year, we had considered the Texas House to be in play, but with an edge to the GOP,” Cook’s Louis…
Nearly 127,000 Harris County drive-thru votes appear safe after federal judge rejects GOP-led Texas lawsuit
A federal judge Monday rejected a request by a conservative activist and three Republican candidates to toss out nearly 127,000 votes cast at drive-thru polling sites in Texas’ most populous, and largely Democratic, county. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen, a George W. Bush appointee, follows two earlier decisions by the all-Republican Texas Supreme…
San Antonio H-E-B stores have updated product purchasing limits on toilet paper and paper towels
San Antonio-based grocery giant H-E-B has placed updated purchasing limits on some of 2020’s hoarding MVPs: toilet paper and paper towels, KSAT reports. The new limits — which went into effect at all H-E-B stores over the weekend — only allow shoppers to pick up two packages of toilet paper and paper towels per purchase.…
San Antonio author Shea Serrano pays tuition for 2 undocumented UTSA students with book proceeds
For San Antonio author Shea Serrano, the giving just doesn’t stop. After a Twitter-driven mission to help people pay their bills during the pandemic-induced financial crisis and his successful fundraising drive for the San Antonio Food Bank, the dude is at it again. Serrano tweeted Monday that, using funds raised from a book he offered…
Rib-shaped pork patty fans rejoice: McDonald’s bringing back cult favorite McRib Sandwich
You read that right: McDonalds’ cult favorite McRib sandwich is back. Somehow, it keeps coming back. This fall, the McRib — so named even though it contains no actual ribs — will make its first appearance in roughly a decade. And, as per previous reintroductions, the return will likely be met by fanatical squeals from fast-food…
Weekend violence near UTSA, The Well results in one person dead and five wounded
San Antonio police are investigating a shooting near Northwest San Antonio bar The Well that left one person dead and five wounded, KENS5 reports. According to the station, SAPD officials believe an altercation took place in the area around 2 a.m. Sunday. An ensuing shootout took place between three vehicles at an intersection near the…
Lengthy rescue of riders stuck on rollercoaster at Sea World San Antonio caught on drone video
If the pandemic isn’t enough to keep the faint of heart away from theme parks, a recent incident on a SeaWorld ride might be. On Sunday afternoon, guests got stuck on a rollercoaster at the amusement park, KSAT reports. The San Antonio Fire Department was called to the park to aid in a technical rescue…
San Antonio’s new Becky Hammon mural the subject of forthcoming film from 60 Second Docs
Late last week, a surprise mural popped up in Lincoln Heights — a portrait of Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon, the second female coach in NBA history. The colorful mural features Hammon beneath the text “NEVER STOP.” It also shows a young girl wearing Hammon’s now-retired San Antonio Stars jersey looking up at her hero,…
During San Antonio stop, DNC chairman says party ready to fight Trump’s voter suppression
Democrats are prepared for the Trump administration’s voter suppression attempts and will respond with “aggressive litigation,” Democratic National Campaign Chairman Tom Perez said Monday in San Antonio. The promise from Perez, in town to stump for Democratic candidates, came as President Trump pledged to sue Pennsylvania to stop it from counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day,…
Here’s how votes are counted in Texas
This coverage is made possible by Votebeat, a nonpartisan reporting project covering local election integrity and voting access. The article is available for reprint under the terms of Votebeat’s republishing policy. There are more votes than ever to count in Texas this year: A record-breaking 9.7 million people cast ballots during Texas’ early voting period —…
Rico Torres, high-profile chef of San Antonio’s Mixtli, will offer virtual cooking class
San Antonio Chef Rico Torres of creative Mexican cuisine landmark Mixtli and the forthcoming Kumo will lend his expertise to a virtual Texas Food & Wine Alliance Alliance Academy class next week. The TFWA’s Alliance Academy provides virtual cooking courses complete with recipe kits which contain everything you need to prepare the restaurant-quality meal from home.…
New delivery-only fried chicken concept to open in San Antonio next month
San Antonio chef James Canter is set to add another feather to his chef hat — a chicken feather, that is. Canter has teamed up with Philadelphia-based chef Chad Rosenthal to bring Motel Fried Chicken, Rosenthal’s delivery-only fried chicken concept, to the Alamo City. The two chefs will post up in Local Sprout’s solar-powered food…
URBAN-15’s Hidden Histories tackles the history of voting rights on eve of election
Before heading to the polls on Tuesday, San Antonians can spend Monday evening learning about the local struggles that made their votes possible. Tonight’s episode of URBAN-15’s Hidden Histories, “Voting Rights, Voting Wrongs: An Election’s Eve Incantation,” explores local suffrage movements that led to the enfranchisement of marginalized Texan voters. This year marks the centennial…
White Noise director still processing experience making doc on alt-right movement
As the first feature documentary produced by The Atlantic, journalist and filmmaker Daniel Lombroso landed a heavy assignment — to peel back the layers of white nationalism and uncover what was really at the core of the alt-right movement. To do this, Lombroso spent four years with three of the movement’s most well-known members —…
Parkland shooting survivor Samantha Fuentes hopes for ‘critical change’ after the election
A few days after 17 students and staff were killed in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, then-governor Rick Scott went to the hospital to visit 18-year-old survivor Samantha Fuentes, who was shot in the leg and suffered injuries to her face from shrapnel. When Scott asked…
Proponents make last-minute case for Proposition B, San Antonio’s job-training ballot measure
Proponents of a local ballot measure that would set up a pandemic-relief job retraining program are making a last-minute push to ensure it’s not lost as voters go to the polls for the high-stakes presidential election. Proposition B, dubbed SA Ready To Work, calls for redirecting $154 million in sales tax revenue from aquifer protection…
Biden camp cancels multiple Texas events after a ‘Trump Train’ surrounded a campaign bus
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into a Friday incident in which a group of Trump supporters, driving trucks and waving Trump flags, surrounded and followed a Biden campaign bus as it drove up I-35 in Hays County, a law enforcement official confirmed to the Texas Tribune Saturday. The confrontation, captured on video, featured…
Late attack ad by John Cornyn manipulates video to put words in opponent MJ Hegar’s mouth
A new attack ad by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, makes use of manipulated video from an interview with Democratic opponent MJ Hegar to make it sound like she fully supports a carbon tax. In reality, Hegar has campaigned that she’d only support such a measure if it’s implemented in a way that doesn’t hurt Texas…
As Texas Republicans center campaigns on city crime, anti-police brutality activists say the party’s messaging is racist
In recent Republican campaign ads for Texas races up and down the ballot, scenes depict urban anarchy, presumably at the hands of people protesting police brutality. American flags burn. Demonstrators smash police cars. Children cry. In many ads, it’s hard to tell where the scenes are happening. Some show looting and fires — incidents that…
Feds bust San Antonio member of the Boogaloo Bois extremist group on weapons charge
Federal authorities arrested a San Antonio man who describes himself as a member of right-wing extremist group the Boogaloo Bois on a weapons charge, the Justice Department said Friday. The FBI took Cameron Emerson Casey Rankin, 21, into custody at his home, where they found a semi-automatic rifle while executing a search warrant, according to a…
Progressive groups unfurl anti-John Cornyn banner along San Antonio River Walk
Hanging a banner on the River Walk may have gotten more visibility pre-COVID-19, but a couple of progressive groups still hope the gesture sends San Antonio voters a message about U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Progress Texas and San Antonio’s Indivisible chapter hung a banner Friday evening calling out the three-term Republican incumbent for his part in rushing…
Citizen scientists take part in monarch butterfly tagging effort as they migrate through San Antonio
Rebecca Zerlin spent her Saturday afternoon catching butterflies at a registered Monarch Butterfly Waystation in the King William neighborhood as a part of a large-scale program to tag the migrating insects. San Antonio sits in the heart of the Texas Funnel, the migratory pathway for monarchs traveling east of the Rocky Mountains on their annual overwintering flight…
Analysis: A Texas election with a decade of politics at stake
If Democrats win the majority of seats in the Texas House on Tuesday, they’ll have a way to push congressional redistricting out of Republican hands and into federal courts, plus they’ll have a powerful lever for negotiation with the Republican governor and Texas Senate on everything else. The political attention is on the political maps…
The absolute 20 best happy hours in San Antonio right now
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Early last year, Holly Barlow-Austin cut off her ankle monitor and headed to Dallas. She lived with her husband in Texarkana, a small town on the border of Texas and Arkansas. But despite the restrictions of her probation, she decided she needed to check herself into a rehabilitation center about three hours southwest of her…
San Antonio Express-News editorial criticizes anti-LGBTQ smears in local political races
An editorial in the October 29 issue of the San Antonio Express-News points out anti-LGBTQ claims made in two local political races: The first for a seat on the NEISD school board, the other a race for a U.S. House seat. In the editorial, the newspaper writes, “Let’s be clear: Homophobia has no place in our…
Cinematic Spillover: Short reviews of The Craft: Legacy, Come Play and Us Kids
It’s Halloween weekend, but that doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but trick-or-treating this year is a not a very smart idea for anyone. Instead, stay home and watch a scary movie with the kids like ParaNorman or Frankenweenie or, if you’re one of those really…
San Antonio-based Ranch Brand spirits to release three overproof bourbons next week
Local booze purveyor Ranch Brand Spirits will unveil a trio of overproof Texas bourbons next week, celebrating the release with a cocktail hour at eastside venue Tucker’s Kozy Korner. The company set out to create quality, affordable spirts earlier this year, starting with vodka, gin and rum. The new bourbons will broaden the spirit purveyors’…
San Antonio’s Rooftop Cinema Club kicks off November with screening of ’80s classic Gremlins
The mischief doesn’t have to stop on Halloween night. Rooftop Cinema Club is kicking off their November series of drive-in screenings with the 1984 comedy horror film Gremlins on Sunday, November 1. The classic film follows Billy Peltzer, played by Zach Galligan, who is gifted a mogwai — or “demon” — by his dad. When…
San Antonio’s Nina Diaz to perform on #iVoted Music Festival’s Election Day livestream
Nina Diaz, frontwoman of beloved San Antonio indie act Girl in a Coma, was one of countless performers unable to share their art live during the pandemic. Thankfully, livestreamed concerts, including the upcoming #iVoted music festival, in which she’s slated to perform, have been a lifeline for both musicians and fans. The event is being billed…
For nearly 3 million disabled Texans, voting this year is even harder
Val Vera finally cast his ballot after sitting for two hours in his van outside a Denton County polling place. He wasn’t waiting on people in line ahead of him, but for an elections clerk to respond to his phone calls. Vera, 52, is disabled and decided to vote curbside this election, an option every…
Eat, drink and be spooky at these San Antonio Halloween events this weekend
We’re celebrating Halloween during a global pandemic — which is totally a bummer — but San Antonians aren’t letting masks and social distancing cramp their spooky style. If you’re looking for ways to get out of the house to celebrate Halloween, consider these events, which offer outdoor seating options as well as socially-distanced indoor layouts.…
San Antonio speakeasy Bar 1919 will reopen Monday with new food menu
Craft cocktail haven Bar 1919 will reopen next week, after being closed for nearly seven months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The eight-year-old establishment has implemented a new food menu to accompany its staggering collection of more than 1,500 bottles of booze. Bar 1919 has been publicly critical of Governor Abbott and the Texas Alcoholic…
Eva Longoria is famous for her acting, but she’s increasingly recognized as a political player in Texas and beyond
A few weeks ago, Texas actor Eva Longoria and her pal, Republican-turned-Biden-supporter Ana Navarro-Cárdenas, unintentionally caused a ruckus while campaigning on behalf of former Vice President Joe Biden at a strip mall in Miami. Situated at a socially distanced campaign event at a Colombian restaurant between a barber shop and day care, Longoria was a…
San Antonio bans retail sale of dogs and cats from breeders
San Antonio City Council voted Thursday to ban the sale of dogs and cats from breeders at pet stores within city limits. Starting January 1, 2021, local retailers can only obtain animals from local shelters and certified rescue organizations. “Puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders are all about maximizing the bottom line — bigger and bigger…
Local bartender breathes new life into downtown cantina, preserving ‘old San Antonio‘ vibes
Recently-opened Tony’s Siesta oozes tio vibes y puro SA attitude. Situated at 206 Brooklyn Avenue near downtown, Tony’s Siesta aims to preserve the comfortable atmosphere of the previous spot — revered watering hole Tony’s Bar — while embracing the growth of SA as a food and beverage destination. Previous owner Tony Lopez closed the doors…
San Antonio synth duo Hyperbubble drops eerie new video just in time for Halloween
Wailing, gothy vocals or death metal-style double bass drumming spring to mind more readily than chirpy synthesizers when it comes to Halloween music. But trust San Antonio’s quirky and creative synth-pop duo Hyperbubble to somehow make it work. The band dropped a video Friday for its cover of the 19th century murder ballad “Banks of the Ohio,”…
In new pro-Biden ad, San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich says ‘our democracy is at stake’
Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich hasn’t exactly been shy about how he feels about President Donald Trump. Now, he’s airing those sentiments once again in new ad endorsing Democrat Joe Biden. The online spot from the Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump Republicans, features Pop talking about what he believes in: truth, equality, affordable healthcare, support…
After backing away from Trump in media interview, Cornyn and ally sing a different tune on the road
John Cornyn and his surrogates might want to get this “am-I-with-Trump-or-am-I-distancing-myself-from-him?” thing sorted before he takes his current campaign road trip much further. Facing a tougher-than-expected reelection fight, Cornyn last month joined the gaggle of GOP lawmakers now backing away from Trump, telling the Fort Worth Star-Telegram editorial board that he disagreed with the president…
Always a battleground, never a landslide: Texas’ 23rd District stays competitive despite state’s political shifts
The Texas congressional battlefield has grown dramatically this election cycle, but one thing has not really changed: The 23rd District remains an all-out brawl until the end. With less than a week until the election, the sprawling 23rd District along the Texas-Mexico border is holding true to its perennial reputation as a hypercompetitive district in November.…
San Antonio Zoo will give out treats to visitors and animals alike on Sunday
This weekend, the San Antonio Zoo hopes to ease the sting of this year’s non-standard Halloween with a special Día de Candy event. On Sunday, November 1, the zoo will host a full day of seasonal activities that will culminate with a free candy giveaway at trick-or-treat stations sponsored by H-E-B at 3 p.m. The…
Texas distiller gets into Halloween spirit with Monster Mash single-barrel whiskey
Still Austin Whiskey Co. has conjured up a monstrous dram of cask strength booze, just in time for the spooky season. The distillery will release the limited-edition Monster Mash single-barrel whiskey under its special Distillery Reserve Series on Saturday, October 31. The spirited sauce was aged 26 months in new charred American Oak barrels, and bottled at 106.53…
New locally owned food truck park in Northwest San Antonio welcomes kids and pups
A new food truck park called The Divide has opened on SA’s northwest side, welcoming eaters, drinkers and their four-legged friends, MySA reports. While the property functions primarily as a full bar with a collection of food trucks, it also boasts a music stage, fenced dog park, private party space and ample outdoor seating. “We…
San Antonio Food Bank’s annual Turkey Trot fundraiser goes virtual for 2020
The 10th annual San Antonio Food Bank Turkey Trot, a key fundraiser for the nonprofit, is going virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event usually takes place downtown on Thanksgiving Day, but Food Bank CEO Eric Cooper says he’s optimistic that the virtual nature of this year’s run will actually yield more…
Family-friendly burger spot taking over former Big Lou’s Burgers location in East San Antonio
Buckets Burgers and Beer Garden is taking over the East Side space previously occupied by Big Lou’s Burgers and BBQ, which closed earlier this summer. The new spot will open Thursday with limited hours. JR Vega, part-owner of The Winchester in Alamo Heights, teamed up with longtime friend Kevin Koenen to acquire the property in…
San Antonio ranks as the 7th worst U.S. city for allergies — but it’s even worse in the fall
We’re back with your twice-yearly reminder that San Antonio can be a punishing place to live for those of us with allergies. This time, the reminder comes from air filter company Filterbuy, which analyzed data from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and ranked the Alamo City as the 7th-suckiest big U.S. city for allergy…
All seven whistleblowers who asked for probe of Texas AG Ken Paxton have now left their jobs
For those keeping score at home, it now stands at seven out of seven. The last of the seven key aides who asked for a criminal investigation of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for allegations of bribery and abuse of office has now resigned. Two others had already turned in their papers, two more were fired…
San Antonio Book Festival going virtual for its spring 2021 event
With the pandemic unlikely to abate anytime soon, virtual events are likely to stay in style well into 2021. The latest San Antonio event to take its 2021 plans digital is the San Antonio Book Festival (SABF). Previously held at the San Antonio Public Library’s central campus and the nearby Southwest School of Art, next…
Should San Antonio brace for possibility of post-election violence?
Historic voter turnout across Texas has made headlines across the country in the final week before Election Day. But it’s what might happen after November 3 that has activists, police and a range of other actors nervous and preparing. President Donald Trump has claimed repeatedly that he will only lose if the election is rigged.…
Food truck Smack’s Chicken Shack moving into storefront north of downtown San Antonio
Smack’s Chicken Shack owner Keenen Hendricks has been guarded about expansion plans for his popular food truck, but looks like his secret is out. Hendricks has taken over the former Big Bob’s Burgers space at 447 W. Hildebrand Ave. for a larger Smack’s Chicken Shack operation, news site MySA reports. The mobile eatery is known…
Trans Latina actress Zoey Luna casts spooky spells in The Craft: Legacy
Twenty-four years after the original supernatural teen flick The Craft hit theaters and inspired “weirdo” girls everywhere to try levitating pencils in class, a new generation of witchy young women are stepping up to show off their sorcery skills in The Craft: Legacy. The sequel follows four new witches who come together to experiment with…
San Antonio food truck serves up authentic Filipino fare at new brick and mortar location
Kain Na has been San Antonians Filipino cuisine from a deep blue food truck since 2018, and now it’s made the jump to a brick-and-mortar location. Staffers this week opened Kain Na Filipino Cuisine — that’s pronounced kah-een nah — located at 2367 Austin Highway. They have been pulling double duty, helping the truck fulfill its daily…
Vegan food cart Project Pollo to open three new San Antonio locations by spring of 2021
Although less than a year old, local vegan operation Project Pollo, which started as a single food cart, has unveiled plans to open three brick-and-mortar eateries in San Antonio and another in Austin by next spring. Project Pollo offers vegan versions of basic chicken dishes, from tenders and buffalo chicken mac and cheese to an array…
Texas AG Ken Paxton shares clip by right-wing group allegedly showing San Antonio voter fraud
Scandal-mired Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has shared a video by a controversial right-wing activist group purporting to show election fraud in San Antonio. The heavily edited clip by Project Veritas, an activist outfit with ties to President Donald Trump, claims to show a campaign employee in the Alamo City engaging in and discussing unlawful tactics…
San Antonio author Shea Serrano featured in official Biden campaign event
In the final run-up to the election, San Antonio writer and Twitter star Shea Serrano made his case for Joe Biden during a livestreamed panel. On Tuesday, the Basketball (and Other Things) author was featured alongside comedian George Lopez, senior Biden advisor Cristóbal Alex, former U.S. Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez and EMT Dreamer Jesus Contreras…
Funko confirms it’s making a line of figurines honoring South Texas music legend Selena
Popular collectibles maker Funko has confirmed that South Texas singer Selena will join its line of Pop! figurines, MySA reports. The announcement confirms earlier rumors that the toymaker planned to immortalize the Queen of Tejano in a new product line next year. “We are honored to be able to confirm that Funko is celebrating the…
San Antonio dermatologist offering Vampire Facials, using patients’ own blood to promote healing
Call it a medical treatment straight out of a Bram Stoker story. A North San Antonio dermatologist is offering skin treatments that involve spreading components of the patient’s own blood over their face to promote skin rejuvenation. The procedure, which San Antonio’s Sonterra Dermatology began offering this month, uses platelet-rich plasma derived from a patient’s…
Records show Trump’s border wall is costing taxpayers billions more than initial contracts
This article is co-published with ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for ProPublica’s Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox as soon as they are published. On the same day in May 2019, the Army Corps of Engineers awarded a pair of contracts worth $788 million…
Report: San Antonio event planner CRE8AD8 told feds it had long relationship with local food bank
In emails to federal officials, event planner-turned-government contractor Gregorio Palomino said his company had a 12-year relationship with the San Antonio Food Bank, a claim the nonprofit refutes, according to a new Express-News investigation. The revelation comes months after Palomino’s San Antonio-based company, CRE8AD8, won a controversial $39 million contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food…
Teachers unions blast TV ad questioning their support of Texas House hopeful Celina Montoya
Leaders of three San Antonio teachers unions have issued statements rebutting an attack ad in which State Rep. Steve Allison alleges opponent Celina Montoya faked an endorsement from the American Federation of Teachers. The TV spot in question suggests Allison, a Republican, enjoys the support of local teachers groups while his Democratic rival falsely claimed…
End of Days Fest brings the apocalypse to Sunset Station this weekend
The aptly titled End of Days Fest is about to hit San Antonio like a hurtling comet. Headlining the two-day heavy music fest are nu-metal stalwarts Saliva, best known for their hit “Click Click Boom,” and Ellefson, the solo project of Megadeth bassist David Ellefson. The concert also features a bevy of regional and San…
San Antonio and Conservation Society scrap fall event at La Villita over COVID-19 concerns
After catching criticism that its Fall Heritage Festival — a fundraiser styled after a mini-Fiesta — could turn into a “superspreader” event, the San Antonio Conservation Society and city officials have pulled the plug on the gathering. In a city news release, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and the Conservation Society said the November 6 event at downtown’s…
Deaf voters reliant on sign language report inadequate access to the polls in Bexar County
Deaf voters in Bexar County aren’t getting adequate access to voting, according to nonprofit advocacy group No Barriers Communications. The organization has received numerous messages from deaf voters concerned about being able to access nearby voting centers, Executive Director Kay Chiodo said. Those who need assistance from a sign language interpreter are being told the…
Board reverses decision that would let Texas social workers discriminate against LGBTQ clients
After an outcry from lawmakers and activists, a Texas regulatory board voted unanimously Tuesday to reverse an earlier rule change that would have let social workers refuse to help clients who are LGBTQ+ or have a disability. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) voted to undo another unanimous decision it made two weeks ago…
San Antonio’s Dorćol Distilling and Brewing celebrating Dia de los Muertos with special beer releases
Dorćol Distilling and Brewing has released special runs of it’s SA Hefe and Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. The Southtown fixture is also teaming up with local cocktail kit-maker Suck It Up SA for a sweet tie-in to the holiday. This weekend, Dorćol will run a limited supply of its SA Hefe…
San Antonio visual artist pounds the pavement in Superman T-shirt to get out the vote
He may not be faster than a speeding bullet, but that’s not stopping visual artist David Alcantar from encouraging fellow San Antonians to vote in the November 3 election. As part of his ongoing The Superman Project, which started in 2016 after Donald Trump won the presidency, Alcantar is running across the city with a…
Thousands of immigrants in Texas hope the courts or the election will save their protected status
Despite knowing that everything he’s worked for over the past three decades could be wiped out within months, Gerson Bonilla hasn’t started thinking about coming up with a Plan B. Bonilla, 49, fled his native El Salvador in 1989 during that country’s violent civil war and received permission to legally stay under a humanitarian program called…
San Antonio’s Black Laboratory Brewing to release Frankenstein-green Monster Blood sour brew
It’s the spookiest week of the year, and Black Laboratory Brewing is pulling out all the stops on a special sour beer to celebrate the season. This weekend, the brewery will release Monster Blood, a sour blonde ale brewed with with pucker-worthy green apple candy belts, green chamoy and chili powder. The electric-green sour clocks…
San Antonio mayor, Bexar County judge bristle at plan to send Texas Guard troops here post-election
San Antonio and Bexar County’s top leaders say a plan by Gov. Greg Abbott to send the Texas Army National Guard here to provide security in event of election unrest is unnecessary — and something they didn’t request. The Texas Army National Guard said Monday that it received orders from the governor to dispatch up…
Mexican eatery El Mirasol closes original location to open new spot in San Antonio’s Stone Oak area
In a Sunday afternoon Facebook post, longtime Mexican restaurant El Mirasol thanked its patrons for 22 years of support as it closed the doors on its original Blanco Road location. “We can’t thank you enough for an incredible 22 years at our Blanco location,” the post read. “While we’re sad to say goodbye, we look…
A new generation of chefs and restauranteurs is upping San Antonio’s Chinese food game
“Chinese food” in San Antonio has historically meant American Chinese staples such as General Tso’s chicken, a dish with contested origins that first rose to culinary fame in Manhattan in the 1970s. The dish reflects America’s love for all things sticky-sweet and deep-fried, and it shares space in the pantheon of American Chinese staples with…
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission now offering training course for alcohol delivery drivers
It’s been clear throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that Texans love to get their booze delivered. Now, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission making sure delivery drivers are sufficiently trained to keep up with the demand. This week, the agency debuted the Texas Responsible Alcohol Delivery (TRAD) certification, available to employees of businesses with permits to make…
As COVID-19 infections rise, Bexar County officials warn that risk level has shifted to ‘moderate’
COVID-19 infection metrics are rising in Bexar County, prompting local health officials to raise the risk level for the general population and for schools from “low” to “moderate.” The change comes as Texas and other states grapple with a surge in new infections and hospitalizations. Both cases and hospitalizations in the Lone Star State have…
San Antonio Day of the Dead River Parade, recorded in secret, will be broadcast on KSAT Friday
It seemed like a foregone conclusion that, like other large events this year, San Antonio’s Day of the Dead River Parade would either be cancelled or converted to a virtual facsimile of its usual grandeur. To the certain delight of many, that’s not the case at all. On Tuesday morning, Day of the Dead San…
Texas’ ability to run accessible, efficient elections is being tested this year. Will Bexar County flunk?
There are two predominant theories of what Election Day will bring in Bexar County, as a record number of voters are expected to arrive at polling places in San Antonio and surrounding communities. One holds that Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen, a seasoned pro considered by some to be the dean of Texas’ local…
Ruby City celebrates Día de los Muertos with community altar honoring late San Antonio artists
Ruby City is honoring three late icons of the San Antonio art community as part of this year’s commemoration of Día de los Muertos. At noon Thursday, October 29, the contemporary arts center will debut a community altar located on its plaza facing San Pedro Creek. The ofrenda will celebrate artists Katie Pell, Chuck Ramirez…
Trey Martinez Fischer becomes second Democrat to announce run for speaker of the Texas House
State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer on Monday announced he is running for Texas House speaker, becoming the second Democrat in the lower chamber to launch a bid for the gavel. Martinez Fischer, from San Antonio, joins state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the longest-serving woman and Black person in the history of the Texas Legislature, in the race.…
San Antonio Pets Alive! is holding a virtual silent auction to raise funds to care for homeless animals
San Antonio Pets Alive! is holding a virtual silent auction to raise money for its mission of ending the euthanasia of at-risk animals. Like many nonprofits, SAPA! relies on fundraisers to support its work. However, the pandemic forced the cancellation of all the group’s 2020 events, resulting in some $200,000 in lost revenue. SAPA!’s solution is to stage…
Lick Honest Ice Creams debuts new fall flavors at its San Antonio locations
Austin-based Lick Honest Ice Creams has rolled out three new fall flavors, inspired by autumnal cool that’s — finally — blown into South Texas. All are available at its two San Antonio shops. Toffee Caramel Swirl features bits of Toni’s Toffee in Lick’s caramel swirl and vanilla ice cream. Toni’s Toffee is gluten- and corn…
Nearly a dozen San Antonio craft breweries will take part in Halloween-themed beer run
To get San Antonio beer lovers into the Halloween spirit, Black Laboratory Brewing is hosting its Spooki Beer Run on Saturday, October 31, encouraging folks to dress up for the all-day event. So far, eleven local craft breweries will participate, offering raffle prizes, goodie bags for the kiddos and, naturally, plenty of suds for purchase.…
Selena: The Series Official Trailer Just Broke the Internet
After months of anticipation, the wait is finally over for Selena fans to get a full glimpse of the late Tejano superstar’s portrayal on the new Netflix TV series. The official trailer for Selena: The Series hit the internet Monday morning and now the December 4 debut date can’t come soon enough. The trailer begins…
New sculpture by Mexican artist Sebastian makes its debut in downtown San Antonio
A massive new public artwork made its debut in downtown San Antonio on Monday. Mexican artist Sebastian’s Door of Equality (La Puerta de Igualdad), a 33-foot-tall gateway installed at the San Pedro roundabout a block north of the San Antonio Central Library, emblematizes the ongoing struggle for justice via a pair of tightly wound cobalt…
COVID-19 pandemic claims San Antonio live music venue Cooter Browns Saloon
Country music venue Cooter Browns Saloon is the latest Alamo City bar to fall victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. Citing current statewide restrictions, lack of a kitchen and a lease agreement that doesn’t allow permanent parking for food trucks, the venue’s management said it had no other option but to close. The club leases space from…
Billionaire Michael Bloomberg funnels $2.6 million into Texas Railroad Commission campaign
Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has kicked $2.6 million into Democrat Chrysta Castañeda’s campaign to serve on the Texas Railroad Commission, the state’s oil and gas regulatory board, the Texas Tribune reports. Even though the commission oversees one of the Texas’ key industries, races for its three seats typically don’t attract major contributions, especially from out of state.…
Aaron Lewis, Raul Malo and EDM Drive-In are among this week’s live music options in San Antonio
Entertainment options in San Antonio haven’t fully recovered, but local venues are starting to host performances again with COVID-19 safety measures in place. We rounded up four live shows around San Antonio this week — assuming you feel safe enough to go out. Wednesday, October 28 Aaron Lewis & Sully Erna A match made in…
Cinematic Spillover: Short reviews of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Rebecca and more
We’re doubling up on Sacha Baron Cohen this week with reviews of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and The Trial of the Chicago 7. One of these films could possibly land Cohen an Oscar nomination. The other features Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani putting his hands down his pants. No spoiler alerts here. We’ll let you figure…
Iconic downtown San Antonio eatery Mexican Manhattan has permanently closed
After more than six decades of serving San Antonio, downtown fixture the Mexican Manhattan Restaurant has permanently closed. Saturday, October 24, was the River Walk staple’s final day of service. “The decision did not come lightly, of course, but it’s time to smell the roses,” owner Larry Karam said in a release. “After 62 years…
San Antonio couple on opposite ends of the political spectrum still butting heads four years later
When Donald Trump was declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, San Antonio stay-at-home mom and Hillary Clinton supporter Celeste Tidwell wept at her sister’s house. Her husband Dave, a prison contractor and avid Trump supporter, was at home, beside himself. “It was 2:30 in the morning and I…
Pre-K 4 SA closes East Education Center after 4 staffers and a student test positive for COVID-19
The Pre-K 4 SA East Education Center has closed after four staff members and one child who were at the school last week tested positive for COVID-19. School officials said they have disinfected the building, conducted contact tracing and identified those who need to quarantine. Students will transition to remote learning this week. “Out of an…
Pointing to pandemic and election controversies, Democrats make their case for Texas Supreme Court
The sleepy contests for seats on Texas’ highest courts have taken on new energy this year as Democrats, bullish on their chances to claim seats on the all-Republican courts, seek to capitalize on a series of controversial pandemic- and election-related decisions. Voters have the chance to choose four justices on the nine-member Texas Supreme Court,…
Cattleman Square Lofts project now partnered with S.A. Housing Trust on affordable housing
The San Antonio Housing Trust Public Facility Corp. (PFC) board on Wednesday agreed to enter a memorandum of understanding with nonprofit developer Alamo Community Group on the construction of the 140-unit Cattleman Square Lofts in west downtown. The apartment development is considered one of the rare affordable housing projects downtown, which will eventually offer rents…
Advocates take aim at Texas board’s decision to let social workers turn away LGBTQ clients
LGBTQ+ advocates and state lawmakers are mobilizing against the Texas State Board of Social Workers’ removal last week of protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and disability status from its code of conduct. During a Friday news conference organized by the Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, advocates said they will pressure the…
Batshit crazy ‘Bullets of Justice’ leads a new round of Halloween movies you can stream right now
As we continue our zombie shuffle toward Halloween, the greatest night of the year, the veil between worlds begins to part, the number of avoid-at-all-cost titles diminishes and more fantastic and terrifying visions are bequeathed. The Mortuary Collection4.5 stars, 108 minutes, Shudder One of horror’s most entertaining genres, the anthology, has seen a massive uptick…
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Popular San Antonio restaurant the Jerk Shack will open second location
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New meat market on San Antonio’s East Side will offer farm-to-table pork, beef and chicken
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Downtown San Antonio Marriott properties tap hospitality veteran for general manager position
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Faced with an election loss, Trump will sow doubt about the truth. We can’t let that happen.
I was a staffer on George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign, and I experienced first-hand the chaotic uncertainty and political maneuvering that was the Florida recount. As historically bad as that time was for our country, it pales in comparison to what may be to come if vote counts on November 3 are at all close.…
